Fostering Quality in Digital Learning

Session 1: Thursday, November 10 from 9:30 - 10:30am
Bryan Hassel, Co-Director,Public Impact
Frederick M. Hess, AEI (Substitute: Seth Reynolds, Parthenon Group)
John Watson,Founder,Evergreen Education Group (Not Present)


Session Information


  • Location: 302/303 (Click Here to View the Session Map)
  • Track: Quality
  • Grade Level Focus: K-5|6-8|9-12|High school to college transition
  • Experience Level: Level 101 - For beginners new to the field (0-1 years experience in K-12 Online Learning)|Level 201 - For intermediate level participants (2-4 years experience in K-12 Online Learning)|Level 301 - For advanced participants (5+ years of experience in K-12 Online Learning)
  • Exhibitor: No
  • Requires Purchase of Product to Implement: No

Session Description

What can policymakers and education leaders do to ensure that digital learning doesn't just make teaching and learning different, but better? A panel of national experts will discuss how to construct public policies that provide incentives for quality in digital learning while supporting innovation and the transformation of the teaching profession. Presenters will draw from their chapters in a forthcoming book on digital learning from the Fordham Institute, funded by the Schwab Foundation.


Session Twitter Hashtag: #vss302s1




    Presentation Materials and Contributions

    Frederick Hess and John Watson were not present.
    In place was Seth Reynolds from the Parthenon Group

    Audience questions/discussions:
    - What is the idea teacher to student ratio for maximum teacher productivity?
    - Key to more effective learning online is the relationship between student and teacher. Discovered that about 125 to 1 was about the right ratio for learning as compared to financial incentives for students.
    - Talked about Gladwell's Tipping Point - 150 is a magic numbers
    - Bugaboos: Pattern in education...there is a tidal wave of unintended consequences (e.g. pay teachers more for more students, doesn't necessarily work). Why is there a gap between good policy in education and the actual results?
    - Current political system is contentious regarding policy for education
    - Very difficult to legislate so that more kids get more of the good stuff. How do you create systems where consumers have the best information/criteria and go to the right systems for them.